Steam-heating device



Nov. 4 1924.

A. C. FREEMAN. JR

STEAM HEATING DEVICE Filed June 29 192i FIG. 1

Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR CLARICO FREEMAN, JR, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEAlvI-HEATING DEVICE.

Appilication filed. June 29, 1.921. Serial No. 481,337.

To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ARTHUR CLAnico FREEMAN, J11, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Heating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in steam heating devices particularly adaptable for providing a simplified but eflicient form of steam generating apparatus for use in connection with heating systems of dwellings or with individual radiators for providing a portable heating unit.

, The primary object of the invention is to provide a steam generating device of the above kind involvin simplicity of construction and durability.

An important object of the invention is to provide a steam generating device for supplying steam to a radiator or radiators and for receiving the return condensation in such manner as to insure free and unimpeded circulation of the steam by lessening contact of the steam with the water either in the radiator or the condensation receiving chamber so that the steam will be dry or superheated and maximum heat will be available and the consumption of fuel or other heating agency will be kept at a minimum.

Vith the above general objects in view and others that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more full described, shown in the accompanying crawings and claimed.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing the invention embodied in a portable heating unit involving a single radiator,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, showing the steam generating device employed with the radiator as in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon line TIL-III of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a View partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of a modified form of the steam generating device.

The invention is illustrated in connection with a conventional form of radiator 5 provided with the usual coupling nipple 6 at the lower end portion of one of the end sections thereof and said sections being coupled together in the usual manner so as to communicate with each other in series at their upper and lower portions as at 7 through the provision of mating alined hollow bosses.

The present invention is shown adapted for use with a single radiator of this kind but it is obvious that by simply multiplying or providing additional steam outlet and condensation return pipes, the invention may be employed with several radiators located in different rooms of a dwelling. In the embodiment shown, the device as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, comprises a casing 8 of any suitable form having an open upper end adapted to be coupled with the nipple 6 by means of an elbow 9 and a short pipe section 10. A steam generating chamber 11 is formed within the casing 8 by providing a steam dome 12 in said casing and as the casing 8 and dome 12 are preferably concentrically arranged in spaced relation, a waterchamber 13 is formed therebetween communicating with the elbow 9. The open upper end of the dome 12 is coupled to one end of a section of pipe 141 that extends centrally through the elbow 9 and pipe section 10 in spaced relation to the latter and the pipe let is of suiiicient length to extend entirely through the hollow bosses 7 of all of the radiator sections so as to convey the steam to the opposite end of the radiator from that adjacent which the steam generating device per se is located. In order to insure proper circulation of the steam through the radiator at all times with a minimum loss of heating efficiency, the free end of the pipe 1% is directed upwardly in the adjacent end section of the radiator as at to, and the other end section of the radiator has one end of a pipe 16 attached to the upper end portion of the same with the other end of said pipe 16 coupled as at 17 to the elbow 9 so as to interiorly communicate with the radiator and said elbow 9, causing circulation of air and steam in pipe 10.

The steam dome 12 rests upon the bottom of the casing 8, being suitably fixed in proper position, and has its lower edge provided with numerous openings 18 so as to permit tion is that the water is slightly heated in the water jacket prior to its entrance into the steam generating dome where it may thenbe quickly converted into steam by the application of a comparatively low degree of heat. Anotheradvantage resides inthe return of the water of condensation entirely out of contact with thesteam about the pipe 14 and steam dome 12 with the water warmed and admitted to the bottom of the steam generating dome out of the path of the steam being generated, thus providing for free passage of the steam with no water directly contacting therewith to lower itstemperature or impede its movement.

The radiator, 5 isprefe-ra-bly provided with a filling spout as'at 19, having a control cock 20, so as to permit filling the casing S t-o the desired level, and in the form of radiators now incommon use, pockets are termed as at 21 at the lower ends ofthe radiator sections which will have-to be filled before the water will run into the casing 8throughthe short pipe section 10 and elbow 9 In order to obviate these water pockets, the same may be covered as indicated by dotted lines as at 22 or 'a special radiator may be constructed to eliminate said pockets. The casing 8 preterably has a receptacle 23-fixed thereto beneath thebottoni of the same for enclosing a liquid or gaseous fuel vburner 24 having a its bottom and as at 28 with the elbow 9, The'fitting' 27 may be provided" with a cock supply pipe 25 leading, to any suitable source of fuel supply, and the burner is of such size.

as to direct its flame substantially entirely upon the central portion'of the bottom of the casing 8 within the boundary of the dome 12 so that'the generation of steam will entirely occur within said dome and comparatively little he'atingfrom' the burner itself will be applied to the water in the water chamber 13. In order to provide for efii ciently' indicating the level of the water within the casing 8, the same may be pro vided with a liquid level gage embodyinga transparent graduated tube 26 connected as at 27 with the'interior of the casing 8 near 29 for draining the casing 8 for removing sediment or the like when desired. a

In operation, the cock or valve 20 is opened and water is then poured into the filling spout 1-9 until'the same fills thecasing 8 to the desired level, whereupon the valve 20 is closed. The burner 24- isthen lighted and as the steam is generated within the steam domechamber 1-1,-tl1e same will pass through the tube'orpipe ll to the far end of the radiator and will be directed. upwardly from the upturned endlb of said pipe 14. Free circulation of the steam will be permitted by passage of air which may be in the radiator through the pipe 16 and some of the steam will be condensed before the same reaches said pipe 16 so as to fall to the bot tom of the radiator and flow through the pipe section 10 and elbow 9 back to the water chamber 13. The remaining steam that is condensed in the pipe 16 is led to the water chamber from the elbow 9 and it will thus be seen that the same body of water will last for aconsiderable length of time as itvis used over and over. The slight amount of evaporation which will take place can betaken care of by simply supplying a; small amount of water from time to time through the filling spout 19. The wateris-allowed to flow from the water chamberto thebottom of, the steam dome through the openings 18 -an das a water seal is provided-at this point, the outlet of the steam must be by way-of the pipe-14E where it is prevented from coming in contact with the water. v

As shown in Figure 2, the burner-enclosing receptacle 23imay be detachably connected to the casing 8-as at 30 and an electrical heating unit 31 as shown in Fig. :Lmay be provided upon thebottom iof the casing 8 within the steam dome l2so that said electric heating unit 31 maybe employed inplace of the burner 24 and the articles sold without the casing or receptacle 23 -andits burner 24:-

On the other'hand, the device may be sold the air blow out and :remain open until steam appears and then close said Cool: 20 and the radiator will be full of vapor and will operate much more efficiently as there will benoair-to be heated up, or rather there will be less air as all the air could not probablybe expelled.

It is believed that the construction and operation as well as the-advantages of the present invention will be a readily understoodand appreciated by those skilled in theart from the foregoing description.

Minor changes maybe made without devention.

What is claimedasnew is:

1. "The combination witha radiator formed of a pluralltv of vertical sections connected parting fromthe spiritand scope ofthe in together at their upper and loWQ PQI'ti ns, I

a of a team --geue -ing pnan tu gmean to connecting said generating apparatus to the lower portion of one end section for form ing a condensate return, and a pipe leading from said generating apparatus through said condensate return and through the lower connections for said sections for delivering steam to a section remote from the steam generating apparatus, whereby steam delivered to the last mentioned section will circulate through the remaining sections to be returned to the steam generating apparatus in the form of water of condensation.

2. The combination with a radiator formed of a plurality of vertical sections connected together at their upper and lower portions, said sections having pockets formed therein in open communication with each other through the lower connections for said sections, of a steam generating apparatus, means for connecting said generating apparatus to the lower portion of one end section in a position substantially below said pockets and for forming a return for condensate collected in said pockets, and a pipe leading from said generating apparatus through said condensate return and through the lower connections for said sections for delivering steam to the section farthest removed from said apparatus, whereby steam delivered to the last mentioned section will circulate through the remaining sections to be returned to the steam generating apparatus by way of the aforementioned pockets and lower connections for said sections.

3. The combination with a radiator formed of a plurality of vertical sections connected together at their upper and lower portions, of a steam generating apparatus comprising a casing, a steam dome positioned within said casing and spaced therefrom to provide a water chamber therebetween, the lower edge of said dome being formed with a plurality of openings; means below said dome for heating water therein; means connecting the upper portion of said casing to the lower portion of one end section to provide a condenstate return, and a pipe leading from the upper portion of said steam dome through said condensate return and through the lower connections for said sections for delivering steam to the section farthest removed from the steam generating apparatus whereby steam delivered to the last mentioned section will circulate through the remaining sections to be returned to the casing in the form of water of condensation.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ARTHUR CLARICO FREEMAN, Jr. 

